tell fingers to write
in compendious form
perchance grant respite
from inner turmoil storm
from nature gregarious
in mind-jail contrarious
through written commune
in time opportune
elucidate my state
perchance reciprocate
perchance to clear
the fog and the fear
perchance exculpate
the guilt o' mind-state
to elicit response
from brain so ensconced
in darkness of mind
state in which i find
the people all around
as i in state confound
a mental funambulism
of paranoia 'n autism
bemused befuddled
black cotton wool not cuddled
all druthers denied
in polyglot mind
in liaison with the devil
unpalatable to one level
thoughts unmanageable
as soft putty malleable
not by monsters in the air
of zoomorphic form to scare
but by monsters in the flesh
catch mind as in a mesh
construe in mental rift
in milieu o' crooks' grift
yet through timeless antidote
with words' rhyme in note
have cleared mind somewhat
from dregs of coffee-***
so onward mettlesome horse
we'll trot together yet
at vanguard o' life's course
till time to pay our debt
till hope for imprimatur
from my true life Protection
in place of light so pure
till time's resurrection.

there's music in the skies
a kaleidoscope of colour
each orchestral player vies
tries to eclipse the other

every note like piccolo calls
rings the air o' castle's turrents
live pink salmon in waterfalls
somersaults 'gainst the currents

there's magic for those with ear
transcendence you can hear
a message, loud and clear
'In the music I am here'.

Yes, it's Seder night again
with bitter herbs 'n chrayne
the munch with a punch
crunch that means so much
link in eternal gold chain

fading memories of father and zeider
reclining in spotless kittels at seder
i've taken their place
must try with broken face
to carry on that everlasting grace

hand over to my children the holy baton
passed on to me from Egypt and Babylon
from the Exodus until now
that sacred wedding vow
the knowledge of a Power to Whom we bow

a Creator of the world Who Rules
With Mercy hears the cries of tools
Who redeemed us and Who brought us
Loved us and Who sought us
And once again shakes up the world with Russ.

They will say He's to deluge returned
as the world 'n all therein is upturned
there's salvation in the air
beneath the pain 'n scare
so together hold my hand and offer prayer

You are the One Who Is and always will be
You give life to all the worlds including me[!]
You redeemed us once before
So hear our knocks on Door
That we may praise your Name 'n evermore

Once more reveal Yourself unto humanity
As the world sinks deeper deeper unto insanity
Say stop to all adversity
An end to lewd perversity
Unveil this world's Paradise for all eternity.

Every drop of blood, of pain and of death,
You can sweeten in a second with Your Breath,
So Holy Grace that Is,
Hear our voice and tears
Let salvation sprout as Your Light appears.

the new year came
darkness in its wake
mars took careful aim
sanity took a break

first plague, then war,
black clouds 'n thunder
we've stopped keeping score
of bodies wrought asunder,

gone is modest shame
conscience limping lame
life is but a game
all to take a claim

there is a light
that shines bright
like the moon in the night

always sealed,
never revealed,
scion of yon Elysian Field

shunning eyes that peer unbidden
to light of soul, always hidden
beneath the scars that life has stricken

a light brilliant because never shown
a light that's hewed from 'neath G-d's Throne
a light burning brightly on its own

so when you see an 'ordinary' guy,
inside shine million suns of sky,
secreted in corporal shrine from on high

whether you know it or not
you've hit the jackpot
just by being alive.

cherub so fair
raven black hair
eyes azure
as grandfather
face radiant
perfect, pure, true,
features salient
i remember you

with tiny hands 'n fingers moving
there you lay swathed in pipes
in distress from convolut'd tubing
not from teething or testinal gripes

in ICU unit of babies diverse
at mercy of overworked nurse
no sound left your mouth, no whimper or cry
when they said you had predilection to die

when no-one was looking, your face turned blue
from lack of oxygen from outside to you,
no-one noticed as your life slipped away
none there for you on your last day